VMFS on SATA

[wagde]

Hi

I know that I can install ESX 4 on local SATA HDD. Right?

The only storage I have is a SATA HDD, can I install the VMFS on it too?

Is there any documentation of the supported storage?

Wagde

[microkid]

Installing VMFS on SATA is no problem, there are many reportes of whiteboxes running ESXi with a SATA disk.

However, it is not officially supported by VMware, so when things go wrong, you're on your own

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[Josh26]

Having a compatible storage controller will have more influence on what you can do than the type of hard disks you use.

[wagde]

Hi

So my question will be:

Are there any sata adapters which support VMFS?

Where can I find such a list?

Thanx

Wagde

[TomHowarth]

Yes on the whole you can install on SATA, however the issue is creating a VMFS partition to run your guests from. your SATA card has to be able to spoof the VMKernel into thinking it is a SAS card. have a mosey along to to see if your current controller is one that has been found to work.

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Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

Message was edited by: tom howarth agh early morning finger trouble. and the V key is not even next to the W key ( at least not on my keyboard)

[microkid]

Most ICH7, ICH9 and ICH10 controllers will just run fine.

[wagde]

Are they officially supported by VMware?

Or they just work.

I searched for a document/statement in vmware.com regarding "VMFS and SATA" support but I could not find any. Is there such a document?

Wagde

[TomHowarth]

Of you want officially supported then you will have to check the HCL Otherwise read my other post

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points

Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author for the upcoming book "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://my.safaribooksonline.com/9780136083214]”. Currently available on roughcuts

[microkid]

Like I said before, they are not supported but do work (in most cases).

Also see http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/esx40_whitebox_HCL.php and http://ultimatewhitebox.com/

[bilbusb]

If you can find a controler that takes both sas and sata you should be fine.

I have a Dell (LSI megaraid) perc 6i .. it is fully supported and works great.

It is only $220 on the dell website, if you call them you can get it sub $200. Its a 8 port sas/sata card. It will work in non dell servers (or desktops) as long as you have a pci express x8/x16 slot (the x16 slot in desktop boards works fine .. the video slot)